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As part of its Black & White campaign for positive change, Herman Miller has partnered with &Larry on a special art project. The installation – now on display at XTRA – will be sold in a silent auction with 100 per cent of the gross proceeds to go to charity.
30 November, 2015
Starting in the month of November, Herman Miller has been holding a series of pop-up art installations at retailer showrooms in the region. Presented only in black and white by artists, these works are part of Herman Miller’s Black and White initiative aimed at underscoring “the cost of buying fakes,” and to encourage contributions to worthy social causes.
In Singapore, Herman Miller has partnered with Larry Peh, Creative Director of award-winning design studio &Larry on the project with 100 per cent of the gross proceeds to go to the Children’s Cancer Foundation, the charity that Peh had picked for the campaign.
Unveiled last Thursday, 26 November to specially invited guests at XTRA in Park Mall, the installation is made up of eight Eames Moulded Plywood Coffee Tables and a single Eames Moulded Plywood chair, all connected to one another in a sprawling configuration.
In his presentation, Peh described the concept as being “very straightforward.”
“I was told to take anything from Herman Miller and reinterpret it anyway I wanted. [However, because the main message that Herman Miller wanted to convey was the issue of] piracy, I couldn’t ‘chop up’ the furniture, I couldn’t paint them, and I couldn’t change the way these furniture pieces had been designed.
“Eventually I took something that I really loved, this [Eames Moulded Plywood] table from Charles and Ray Eames that I face everyday at home… I looked at it and realised that just like charity and any [effort of] goodwill, it takes one person to take the lead and the rest slowly will follow. With that in mind, I set about to design this whole art piece linking eight tables together [with the Eames Moulded Plywood chair at the head of the line]. Why eight? Because I first came up with the name of the piece, ‘Togather’, and it has eight characters.
While the installation may look simple, Peh explains that a lot of time was spent working on the structural support of the art piece to ensure that it would be stable to sit on.
The silent auction of &Larry’s Togather art installation is now on. 100 per cent of the gross proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Children’s Cancer Foundation.
In addition, 5 per cent of the gross proceeds from the purchase of items from the Charles & Ray Eames collection will also be donated to the Children’s Cancer Foundation.
Duration: 27 November – 31 January 2016
Where: XTRA, Park Mall
For more information on the Herman Miller Black & White campaign for positive change, visit http://www.xtra.com.sg/feature/Let-s-talk-Black-White-84.html
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Designed by CCD, Le Jardin in Shenzhen, China brings together a restaurant, a bar, a wine cellar, a cigar bar, and a billiard room to create a wonderful experience for patrons.
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Art, culture and history come together effortlessly at Andaz Macau, redefining luxury hospitality in a city known for its extravagance and theatricality.


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A group of cyber stability researchers promises it was equipped to hack into the technique that controls the plates. That enable them observe the GPS spots of vehicles, change what the plates exhibited, and see purchaser facts.
The Purported Rewards of Digital Plates
The company at the rear of the plates, Reviver, sells them by subscription. Reviver costs $19.95 for every month for a battery-powered edition and $24,95 a thirty day period for a single really hard-wired into your motor vehicle. The organization promises the plates “enable a much better knowledge for everybody, such as motorists, DMVs, highway patrol, auto dealerships, and business fleet businesses.”
California claims the plates preserve taxpayers revenue simply because users can renew them electronically. That will save on mail expenditures and administrative charges at DMV spots. As a 2019 report on a pilot exam of the plates points out, “the price tag is borne by the shoppers, with minimal fiscal impact to the point out.”
Entrepreneurs will get to renew their registration devoid of leaving household and exhibit a individual message on a smaller panel earlier mentioned the license plate number. That concept, Reviver notes, can exhibit “stolen” if the vehicle is stolen.
The enterprise also advertises that owners can “receive immediate alerts if your car moves.”
That’s the place the hackers occur in.
White Hats and Black Hats
If you don’t frequently monitor the cyber security local community, a fast primer on its lingo may be handy.
“White hat” hackers are protection researchers who hunt for vulnerabilities in software and solutions so that they can warn the businesses that make them to correct them before anything terrible occurs. “Black hat” hackers hunt for vulnerabilities so that they can exploit them.
White hat hacker Sam Curry and his group from Yuga Labs are swiftly turning into vital to the automotive industry’s cyber security initiatives. Past thirty day period, Curry uncovered a flaw that enable his crew remotely unlock and get started vehicles from at least a dozen companies. They were also equipped to obtain identification info on some auto homeowners.
The organizations concerned say they immediately closed the protection loopholes Curry found.
Now, he says he’s hacked into Reviver’s programs. In a weblog write-up, Curry writes that his group attained “full tremendous administrative accessibility to handle all person accounts and vehicles for all Reviver related autos.”
Hackers Could Track Locations, See Person Info
That enable them observe the GPS location of each electronic license plate proprietor. They uncovered they could also transform the individualized display screen panel on every plate to say whichever they wanted it to say, and mark any automobile as stolen.
Scientists also found purchaser details, “including what autos people owned, their bodily deal with, cell phone quantity, and e-mail deal with.”
They advised Reviver how they did it, and the firm claims it quickly shut the vulnerabilities.
“We are happy of our team’s speedy response, which patched our software in beneath 24 several hours and took even further actions to prevent this from developing in the potential,” Reviver says. “Our investigation confirmed that this potential vulnerability has not been misused.”
Electronic Plates May well Be a Remedy to No Problem at All
The incident, nonetheless, points to a growing reality about present day cars and trucks. Progressively, most autos are related to the world wide web most of the time.
That will modify most of what you know about car ownership. It will enable automakers to demand regular monthly expenses for auto characteristics, most likely bringing an conclude to the notion of possession or entirely paying out off a car or truck. It also can make cars and trucks increasingly trackable – and may well be a reason for some of us to conclude that adding one more linked product to our autos is not value the pitfalls.
Specially when it solves a challenge also solved by a simple piece of metallic.

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Snohomish County’s strategy to boost local tourism won recent plaudits from marketing types.
Meanwhile, the county continues to advance its plans to lure more out-of-towners here and get them to stay longer.
The idea is to capitalize on the county’s main attractions, such as the Boeing Tour, other aerospace facilities, outdoor recreation, gambling, shopping and sports. And, while people are here, tourism boosters hope to convince them to linger and visit places such as the Mukilteo Lighthouse, the Imagine Children’s Museum or the Schack Art Center.
“There are reasons to stay multiple days,” said Amy Spain, executive director for the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau.
Tourism is the county’s fourth-largest industry and accounts for more than $900 million in estimated annual visitor spending.
County and industry leaders crafted the plan in 2010. It identifies the county’s biggest tourism strengths and weaknesses. It also seeks to build the county’s brand image, an ongoing effort that is likely to incorporate airplane manufacturing and the area’s natural attractions.
It updates a previous plan that was a decade old, Spain said.
The strategic plan is separate from the tourism promotion area the county put in place earlier this year to generate more overnight stays. The promotion area is expected to generate $1 million per year through a $1-per-night fee on hotels of 50 or more rooms.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, firstname.lastname@example.org.


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- KFC launched KFC Rewards in the U.S., allowing customers to earn rewards on digital orders made on the company’s app or website, the chain said in a press release Tuesday.
- Members earn 10 points for every eligible dollar spent online. Points can be redeemed for free food in KFC’s Secret Recipe Vault, which includes offerings like free eight-piece Kentucky Fried Nuggets, a free chicken sandwich or a free side. These rewards will always rotate.
- KFC’s rewards program is already available in other countries, such as the U.K. and Ireland, which updated its version with gamification and instant rewards in 2022.
The launch of KFC Rewards will further parent company Yum’s strategy to boost digital sales, which grew 20% and reached $7 billion Q3 2023, CEO David Gibbs said during a November earnings call. The KFC Rewards program is only available for digital purchases, providing an extra incentive for customers to order online.
KFC U.S. is the chain’s second largest market at 15% of total system sales. Any uptick in digital sales will have a significant impact on overall sales. As of Q3 2023, system sales were up 3% in the U.S., per the company’s earnings release.
KFC could see similar success with its program as its sister company Taco Bell, which launched its rewards program in 2020. Taco Bell’s loyalty customers spend 40% more on purchases than non-members, Gibbs said. Taco Bell plans to enhance its program this year with more exclusive experiences and early access to new products. It will also create more personalized experiences by integrating its loyalty program with its digital menu boards.
Several other QSRs have updated loyalty programs within the past 18 months, as well. Potbelly updated its rewards program with additional redemption offers in January while Subway, Domino’s, Starbucks and El Pollo Loco revamped their programs last year. Many of the revisions were done to create different rewards tiers and to add more personalized offers. Personalization will continue to be a major focus for rewards programs as a way to boost engagement this year.


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In an exhibition during Milan design week, Edelkoort and Google will reveal a vision for how computer hardware could be more seamlessly integrated into workplaces and homes, through the introduction of elements such as textiles.
Their aim is to question the role that technology will play in day-to-day life in the future.
The starting point for the exhibition was a concept first introduced by Edelkoort in 1998, called Softwear. She imagined a future where technology is used in the process of nesting, and where working from home is part of a typical lifestyle.
"We begin to take time for ourselves, to be more present at home, we realise that a career does not have to be made in an office environment, and will begin to achieve a new feeling of balance and creativity," she said at the time.
"With the softening of lines between work and leisure will come a need for new clothing and interiors, not to mention other consumer products and services," she continued.
"Textiles will be of capital importance, for in fabric terms they describe the tactility we seek. Softwear is more than just a trend. This forecast heralds the coming of a major new industry, not only in clothing but also in interiors, design, gardening, hardware, retail, consumer products and communications."
The exhibition, also called Softwear, will explore this concept in light of today's technologies and lifestyles, and in line with the vision of sensorial hardware proposed by Ivy Ross, Google's vice president of hardware design.
Taking place at the Rossana Orlandi gallery, the show will comprise three rooms.
The first room will contain an audiovisual presentation and catalogue prepared by Edelkoort and her team. The second will house a series of specially designed wall hangings created by Dutch designer Kiki van Eijk, which will showcase textiles being used for upcoming Google products. And the third will present Google's vision for integrated technology.
Edelkoort is one of the most influential figures in design and fashion. Originally from the Netherlands, she is now based between Paris and New York, and is an advisor to fashion companies and consumer brands around the world.
With collaborator Philip Fimmano, she has also curated a wide range of trend-focused exhibitions, including one celebrating fetishism in fashion and one highlighting innovations in fabric technology. She also put out a statement declaring that end of the fashion industry.
Softwear will be on show at Rossana Orlandi, Via Matteo Bandello 14, from 17 to 22 April 2018.
Dezeen will be hosting a panel discussion to coincide with the exhibition, moderated by Dezeen founder Marcus Fairs. Speakers will include Edelkoort, Google's vice-president of hardware design Ivy Ross and Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory.
The event will be live-streamed on Dezeen at 5:00pm on 17 April 2018. It will also be available via our YouTube channel.


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November 4, 2016
Mathematics has always been taught at Perkins, but the tools and techniques have evolved over the past century.
September 20, 2016
New smartphone app helps commuters who are blind find bus stops and travel more independently.
September 16, 2016
First-of-its-kind pilot program will allow state’s RIDE customers to get subsidized, on-demand service from Uber and Lyft.
September 2, 2016
Optimus Ride partners with Perkins to test self-driving technology that will revolutionize transportation for people who are blind.
August 30, 2016
New York audio describer helps theatergoers who are visually impaired enjoy popular plays and musicals.
August 3, 2016
Perkins parent operates nonprofit that provides beach wheelchairs, so kids with disabilities can enjoy the summertime.
July 28, 2016
Here are 10 tips to ensure that everyone, including people who are blind, can fully participate in your next meeting.
June 23, 2016
Popular streaming service reaches historic agreement to make shows and movies accessible to people who are blind.
February 16, 2016
Stevie Wonder's shout out for braille and accessible books surprised the crowd, but not the director of Perkins Library.
Why non-accessible websites are no longer good enough, and what governments and businesses must do to improve digital accessibility.


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Europe holding 3DS-focused Nintendo Direct on Oct. 4th (2 PM East Coast)
02 October, 2012 by
I've about had it with these Nintendo Direct events! Nintendo just keeps pumping them out! The next event, which is focused on European 3DS content, will be 2 PM East Coast time on Oct. 4th. A rather early event this time around!
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The World Ends With You: The Animation launches worldwide in 2021 and will be 3DCG, debut trailer shared
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Nintendo 80th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders - Q&A info summary (mobile business, Switch supply shortage, Joy-Con drift lawsuit, COVID-19 measures, & more)
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Terra users lost more than $ 4 million as a result of a phishing attack
From April 12 to 21, dozens of Terra network users became victims of a phishing attack. The attacker received cryptoactives at $ 4.31 million, experts SlowMist said.
The attacker used phishing advertisements in Google. According to the analysts of the company, the calculation was that users would look for well -known projects of the Terra ecosystem like Anchor or Astroport.
The search issued in the first lines the results similar to the real site. In some cases, the correct domain name was even indicated, but it changed after the crossing the link.
In an opening window, the victim was offered to connect their wallet and introduce SEED-Fraz. This allowed unauthorized to remove assets from it.
SlowMist experts recommended Terra users not to cross Google advertising or links to dubious resources.
“This will help reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of Fishing,” they https://gagarin.news/events/token-2049-singapore/ emphasized.
For ten days, funds from 54 different addresses were received on the purse of the attacker.
Recall that the Metamask non-caste team warned users about the risks of data storage in Apple ICLOUD due to possible phishing attacks.


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Parts Town LLC, Addison, IL, a distributor of OEM repair and maintenance equipment parts for the restaurant and foodservice equipment sectors, announced that private equity firm Berkshire Partners LLC has invested in the company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Summit Partners, an existing shareholder, will remain a significant investor in the company.
“Parts Town possesses a customer-centric and innovative culture, which has driven remarkable growth,” said Kevin Callaghan, a managing director at Berkshire Partners. “We look forward to working with its team and Summit Partners to support the company’s next chapter.”
Another distributor in Berkshire Partners' portfolio, SRS Distribution Inc., McKinney, TX, was featured in the recent MDM article, Sky’s the Limit at SRS Distribution.


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Tracy Yip yesterday attended an event. Regarding the latest reports of TVB freezing her because she not concentrating on work and spending too much time dating Don Li, Tracy denied the claims and expressed that the rumours are unfair because it gives TVB a bad name. Tracy then explained that her jobs will decrease in the near future because she wants to spend more time studying.
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The Bosch engineer Christian Appel is working with the Nikola Motor Company startup to develop the world’s first 40-ton truck to feature a fuel-cell powertrain. It’s an electrifying opportunity — and it could well herald the start of a new era in freight haulage.
Truck tuning in Arizona
Shimmering heat waves ripple across the asphalt of the test and engineering center situated on the edge of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve in Arizona. Christian Appel briefly removes his baseball cap to wipe the sweat from his brow. He fixes his gaze on the horizon, where the outline of a snow-white truck is just about visible. The team around him is busy adjusting settings, calibrating equipment, and calling out the latest status updates. “OK, let’s get the truck back on the track,” Appel says into his radio. This is the fifth time they have carried out the procedure today. It’s all about fine-tuning. Soon everything will be exactly right: the control system, fuel cell, and steering. Soon it will be showtime.
Time to get trucking
The 32-year-old German has been living and working in Phoenix in the U.S. for close to a year. Together with various other Bosch associates, Appel has been assigned to work with Nikola Motor Company to help get the emerging technology of fuel cells up to speed for commercial truck production. “A fuel-cell powertrain is lighter and takes up less space than its battery-driven equivalent,” the engineer says.
Nikola Motor Company has come up with a smart business model that involves leasing its semi-trucks on a mileage basis including fuel. The startup is also building filling stations that process hydrogen using renewable forms of energy and store it until it’s needed. The electricity required is purchased when it’s cheap — a sustainable model that makes the use of fuel-cell trucks economically viable.
The mission: to achieve a world first
As customer chief engineer, Appel is responsible for the technical coordination of the Bosch components in the truck known as Nikola Two. There are plenty of those components: electric motors for the e-axle, the vehicle control unit, and key components of the hydrogen fuel cell. What’s more, the new Bosch mirror camera system has replaced the truck’s side-view mirrors, and the Bosch Perfectly Keyless system means truck drivers no longer have to search for their keys.
Appel’s biggest challenge is the sheer volume of different challenges thrown up by the project. “We’re not just improving a vehicle that has already been launched, but rather working with the customer to essentially redefine truck driving from scratch. We’re helping a startup turn its vision into reality,” Appel says. And Bosch also benefits, he explains: “Our in-depth knowledge of a powertrain technology that could revolutionize freight haulage is giving us a competitive edge.”
A team for any task
But Appel’s work as an engineer involves more than just developing truck components: “Networking is really the key to what I do. I talk to customers and pass on their requirements to the relevant Bosch colleagues,” he says. He utilizes a worldwide network. Over 200 associates from six divisions worked on the development of the truck. “Whether automated, connected, or electrified — we have the right experts who can provide support. There aren’t many companies that can offer that,” Appel says. What he prizes above all is the sense of team spirit: “The teamwork on the project is fantastic. Everyone is doing the best they can to help get a truly unique truck on the road. That’s a great feeling!”
Five facts about work on the Nikola Two project
Time to recharge
Ten days later, they've achieved their goal. Nikola Two is unveiled to huge crowds at a public demo day in Scottsdale, drawing an enthusiastic response from the trade press. The next job for the truck godfather is to help get Nikola Two into production. The goal is to make 35,000 trucks a year, with production kicking off in 2022. But first it’s time for a well-earned break.
“There’s a great hiking trail through the desert that starts just behind our house. Walking that trail with my son is exactly the kind of break I need,” Appel says. The sun slowly sets behind Arizona’s desert mountains as both Christian Appel and the Nikola Two recharge their batteries, ready for their next mission.
customer chief engineer, Bosch Engineering
After studying mathematics, Appel joined Bosch seven years ago. He is currently working in Phoenix, Arizona, living an authentic startup experience with Nikola Motor Company — and relishing every moment. Once this project is over, he will be transferring what he has learned back into the Bosch world, and there will be plenty of memories of his time in the U.S. that he will never forget: “We went night diving with manta rays in Hawaii. It was a truly unforgettable experience — and it even inspired me to get a tattoo!”


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WASHINGTON – Democrats in Congress are taking a swipe at credit card issuers and their increasingly creative reasons for raising fees on strapped consumers, sparking a well-financed duel over how to crack down on alleged abuses.
Striking the right balance between getting credit moving again and protecting consumers who depend on it is a long and complex process and nowhere near complete. But lawmakers were hoping to advance consumer-friendly legislation before they head home for Easter at the end of the week and face their constituents – 12.5 million of whom are out of work.
“Right before this break coming up I thought it was a good time to try to deal with it, get it done,” said Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.
His panel led the way Tuesday by narrowly voting to send the full Senate a bill that would ban some of the many reasons credit card issuers raise interest rates and fees on consumers, raising the hackles of industry advocates who say such limits would ultimately cost consumers more money.
“Making this credit available is a very risky business and the committee’s action today will unfortunately make it harder, not easier, for banks to continue doing so,” said American Bankers Association’s Kenneth J. Clayton.
The answer, according to some Republicans, is prosecuting predatory lenders and requiring issuers to more fully disclose agreements in language that consumers can easily understand. They point out that new rules by the Federal Reserve, designed to accomplish some of the same goals, take effect next year without punishing an industry suffering from the recession or putting credit out of reach for higher-risk borrowers.
“This legislation will take us back to an era when competition was limited, working families who needed help were denied access to credit cards and everyone paid interest rates one-third higher than today’s, regardless of whether they paid their bills on time,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, the top Republican on a House subcommittee that takes up the issue Wednesday.
Democrats rattle off examples of some in the industry that have exploited the needy: The college student or elderly consumer who was offered and accepted lines of credit they plainly could not afford; the economically viable consumer stunned by bigger-than-expected monthly payments, inflated under an obscurely written agreement or for hard-to-understand reasons.
“Disclosure is no longer enough. The credit card industry has found ways around disclosure,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “No average consumer can hope to keep up with all the changes that have been made.”
“We should not, however, legislate by anecdote,” warned Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Dodd’s bill – similar to the House measure to be considered Wednesday – would force the industry to comply this year with some of the same rules approved by the Fed now slated to take effect in 2010.
Dodd’s proposal, approved by the panel 12-11 on Tuesday, would bar so-called double-cycle billing, when a card issuer computes interest charges on outstanding balances from more than one billing cycle. It also would ban “universal default,” the practice of raising a cardholder’s interest rates when that consumer has problems paying other creditors. And it would prevent card issuers from changing the terms of a contract as long as the card holder pays on time.
Shelby said he supports some of those goals. But he voted against the bill, as did every other Republican on the panel, in part because he said it would prohibit card issuers from pricing according to an existing card holder’s past and potential behavior.
That, Shelby said, would amount to abandoning risk-based pricing altogether.
“All financial transactions should be based on risk. Nothing else,” Shelby said. “Risk, the ability to pay back.”
“But the rates always go up,” Dodd replied. “I don’t know of an example where risk-based pricing has rewarded a consumer.”
The Senate bill is S. 414. The House version is H.R. 627. They can be accessed at http://thomas.loc.gov.


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Vivo Z5x with Punch-hole Display Confirmed to Launch in India
Last week, Vivo has posted a few images teasing the launch of a new Z-series smartphone in the Indian market. Now, the latest report confirms the company to soon launch the Vivo Z5x in the Indian market. The device will be sold exclusively via online channels including the company’s own online store. While the company is yet to officially confirm the name of the device, the teaser images shared on the Vivo India’s Twitter handle resemble the teaser image of the China launch of Vivo Z5x smartphone.
In China, the base variant of the Vivo Z5x with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage is currently retailing for CNY 1398 (approx USD 200 / INR 14,000). It is the most affordable smartphone with a punch-hole display available in the market. In India, the Vivo Z5x will be competing with the Samsung Galaxy M40. While the Vivo Z5x uses IPS panel, the Galaxy M40 comes with a Super AMOLED panel. The Vivo Z5x comes with a 6.53-inch punch-hole display with Full HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) resolution and 90.77% screen-to-body ratio.
Under the hood, the device comes powered by the 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC featuring the Kryo 360 CPU and Adreno 616 GPU. It comes packed with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of UFS 2.1 flash storage. On the rear, the Vivo Z5x sports a 16MP primary camera with f/1.78 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture, and a 2MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture. It is equipped with a 16MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture on the front.
The Vivo Z5x is backed by a 5,000mAh non-removable battery and supports 18W dual-engine fast charging. It runs on Android 9.0 Pie based FunTouch OS 9.0 out of the box. Connectivity options include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, and MicroUSB 2.0 port. In China, the Vivo Z5x comes in Black, Blue, and Gray color options and offers gradient finish. Stay tuned on Phone Radar for Indian pricing and availability details of the Vivo Z5x smartphone.


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Ongoing investment in technology by the retail banking sector is essential if the industry is to win the business of a maturing generation of tech-literate consumers who are forsaking traditional physical channels in favour of online consumption of financial products.
Seperate studies of Gen Y consumers (those aged between 21 and 29 years of age) by Fiserv and Cisco reveal an up-and-coming generation of fiscally responsible young adults who are more comfortable operating in a digitally-connected environment than preceding generations.
Members of Gen Y are frequent users of online and mobile financial services, the research finds, are more likely to have debit cards and savings accounts than any other generation, and rely heavily on other people and online information when making financial product decisions.
According to Fiserv, which commissioned research by Accelerant, 48% of Gen Y with a credit card signed up for the card online, and 36% of those with personal loans applied for the loan online. Eighty percent of the sample had also used online banking within the past month, a higher percentage than any other generation.
Geoff Knapp, vice president, online banking and consumer insights, Fiserv, says: "This is a formative period for financial institutions to establish strong relationships with Gen Y, and the survey reinforces how important it is for institutions to deliver accessible banking services that will satisfy these consumers' comprehensive needs."
Similar results were uncovered by Cisco, which found that 40% of Gen Y customers use Web-based personal financial management (PFM) tools (primarily those offered by their banks) to manage expenses, reduce debt, and maximise long-term savings.
The Cisco study, which surveyed 1055 US consumers aged 18 and older, found that young consumers are embracing new communications technologies such as mobile and video, and adopting online behaviors at an "astonishing rate".
Philip Farah, director, Cisco Internet business solutions group, financial services practice, says: "The recent economic crisis has accelerated the rise of Gen Y as a major segment for the U.S. economy while the decline of boomers' influence is happening faster than anticipated. This will have a profound impact on retail banking, as banks' current value propositions are mainly designed around the needs of older generations. Banks now have a window of opportunity to embrace Gen Y through the appropriate utilisation of technology and a shift in current business approaches."
Both Fiserv and Cisco found that many young consumers are extending electronic financial activities from their computer to their mobile phones, with one-third of the Accelerant sample conducting mobile banking activities in the last month, compared to only 11% of baby boomers.
The role of online forums and friends and family in helping make financial decisions also stood out in both studies, indicating a growing importance for financial institutions to stake out a presence in Internet-based communities.


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Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has a $300 million budget for their advertising budget. Microsoft signed Jerry Seinfeld as their advertising spokesperson for Windows Vista in a deal worth $10 million. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is also known for hiring celebrity spokespeople. When Vista was released, Apple celebrity spokesmen, John Hodgman acted as a PC and Justin Long acted as a Mac to satire Microsoft.
Seinfeld will appear in commercials with Bill Gates. The slogan of Microsoft’s campaign is “Windows, Not Walls” as a point that Windows is used to help break down wall barriers in connecting with others. The campaign is set to debut on September 4. Windows Vista has a negative perception in the media and Microsoft wants to reverse it.
Supposedly Microsoft considered other celebrities such as Will Ferrell and Chris Rock.
Last month Steve Ballmer sent out an e-mail to Microsoft employees. “In the weeks ahead, we’ll launch a campaign to address any lingering doubts our customers may have about Windows Vista.” Microsoft plans to provide “a more comprehensive effort to redefine the meaning and value of Windows for our customers,” added Ballmer.
Crispin Porter + Bogusky came up with the new advertising campaign. Microsoft cancelled their deal with McCann Erickson to handle the campaign. McCann is now working directly the promotion of the XBox.


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Icebox, due to launch next month, will boast content by writers from hit TV cartoon shows "South Park" and "King of the Hill" and the expertise of producers from popular TV shows "Seinfeld," "Dawson's Creek" and "Frasier," to name a few.
"The site will give us the opportunity and creative freedom to showcase our work and have unfiltered access to our audience," Chris Keyser, co-creator of the TV show "Party of Five," said in a statement. Keyser is among the writers and producers Icebox chief executive Steve Stanford has cultivated for his Web site.
When Stanford approached Santa Monica, Calif.-based eCompanies with his idea, it quickly caught on, according to an eCompanies representative. eCompanies helps start-ups by providing services such as strategy, financing, business development and marketing.
Founded by EarthLink co-founder Sky Dayton and former Walt Disney Internet executive Jake Winebaum, the company has been on a tear, rapidly growing consumer-oriented Web sites. It has taken a stake in e-commerce start-up Craftopia.com and last fall launched eParties.com and eMemories.com.
In November, eCompanies grabbed the spotlight by paying a hefty $7.5 million for the domain name Business.com to launch a business-to-business Internet service.


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Adweek's annual #Brandweek summit will explore the ideas behind breakthrough successes, discuss solutions to pressing challenges and explore new opportunities in the Metaverse. Join leaders from Alo Yoga, Hyundai Motor America, Frito-Lay and more, Sept. 12–16 in Miami. Sign up early to save.
A new group designed to combat industry-wide ad fraud is up and running with a host of big-name companies on its board. Top brands, agencies, Internet and ad tech companies have officially signed on with the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), which is going after one of the most pressing problems facing CMOs.


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THE NEW car parking machines which will enable visitors to Bromsgrove town centre to use credit and debit cards, along with the MiPermit app and cash, will be up-and-running on Valentine’s Day (February 14).
The decision to make all pay and display car parks able to accept all three types of payment was made at full council on Wednesday.
Cashless options for parking payments were publicly consulted on in late 2021 and a decision has now been made to install new machines based on this feedback.
Results from the consultation showed that more than 60 per cent of respondents wanted some form of card option whilst others preferred cash.
Bromsgrove District Council contractors will be installing brand new machines, some of which accept both card and cash, in all car parks apart from the Churchfields multi-storey which will take just virtual permits and the app.
The council said disruption to car parks between now and February 14 will be minimal with a small number of spaces barriered off and changeovers should only take a matter of hours to complete.
Bromsgrove District Council leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and the Town Centre, Coun Karen May, said: “Good, accessible parking is vital for the success of our town centre.
“We have listened to what our residents and visitors wanted and once installed we will have a variety of options for car park users.
“The pandemic has changed the way many of us do things, with contactless payments high on the list.
“We’ve retained the cash option on the machines for those who still prefer or need it. I am proud to say that when this changeover is complete, we will have one of the most up to date systems in the whole of Worcestershire.”
Existing pay and display machines can only take coins, with about one in five drivers currently choosing to use the ‘MiPermit’ website and app to pay online instead.
The new machines will be able to take card payments, including contactless, but the decision to keep a cash option was agreed to give a choice to all visitors using the car parks.
This work is the latest phase of car park improvements to take place across the district following recent upgrades to lighting and electric charging points.
Regular car park users are advised to apply for a virtual permit for the long stay pay and display car parks as this could provide significant savings.
Call Matthew Mead on 01527 64252 3345 or email email@example.com for more on the upgrades.
New parking system could help clampdown on illegal parking in other areas
WE REVEALED on Thursday that the new pay and display car park systems could free up enforcement officers to tackle illegal and irresponsible car parking across the district.
Click here for more.


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For the past few years, lootboxes have been a topic of mass contention – many gamers have seen it as an unethical way to segment the full game into paid microtransactions, others have seen it as an unfair way to gain an advantage over others by paying to special items or heroes. Either way, many countries haven’t been happy with this new monetization mechanic – a most recent example being the Netherlands and Belguim.
Gamers in the Netherlands and Belgium are currently unable to open lootboxes in CS:GO following a recent update. This comes as a follow up to Steam disabling the Marketplace in the Netherlands – while the marketplace has been re-enabled, Lootbox opening has been disabled.
Psyonix, have decided to opt for loot boxes transparency, publicly announcing what the drop rate is for cosmetic crates in Rocket League so that players can make informed decisions with regards to the purchases they make.
- Rare Item: 55%
- Very Rare Item: 28%
- Import Item: 12%
- Exotic Item: 4%
- Black Market Item: 1%
- Chance of receiving Painted attribute: 25%
- Chance of receiving Certified attribute: 25%
So there you have it, gamers will now know the odds of getting rare and exotic items when purchasing a lootbox.
Rocket League is out now for Switch, PS4, PC and Xbox One.


text: Garbage Announce US Tour In Support of 20th Anniversary Edition Of Version 2.0 Consort News May 2, 2018 Featured News, Music On the 23rd April 2018, Garbage announced a short US tour in support of the recently announced 20th anniversary edition of their legendary second album Version 2.0. The tour kicks off on the 29th September 2018 in Seattle, WA and wraps up on the 27th October in Brooklyn, NY. It will see them perform the classic album in full, as well as a number of B-sides from the reissue. Tickets for the tour will be on sale from the 27th April and are available from their website https://garbage.com/tour Garbage announced the 20th anniversary edition of Version 2.0 last month and is due for release on the 22nd of June through Stunvolume/PIAS. The package will feature the whole original album as well as 10 B-sides from the era. You can pre-order the digital album at http://smarturl.it/GarbageV2.0 Originally released in May 1998, Version 2.0 spawned fan-favourites such as ‘Push It’, ‘I think I’m Paranoid’ and ‘Special’. Shortly after its release, the Recording Industry Association of America honoured the album with a platinum certification for exceeding 1 million units sold. Version 2.0 went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide and was nominated for a four Grammy Awards. Don’t forget to visit www.garbage.com for updates on standard and deluxe Vinyl formats. The reissue of ‘Lick The Pavement’ is available at http://smarturl.it/LickThePavement So chuffed to be included in your show at the International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères you dazzling pair of bitches. @bettinarheims @billmulleninc A post shared by garbage (@garbage) on May 1, 2018 at 8:49am PDT Links: https://www.facebook.com/GarbageOfficial https://www.instagram.com/garbage/ https://www.youtube.com/user/garbage Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


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Showing 7 results for: Turbodyne Technologies Inc
BURRIDGE GROUP L.L.C., a unit of Affiliated Managers Group Inc., acquired Sound Capital Partners L.L.C., a Seattle-based money management firm that oversees about $200 million of assets for institutional clients, for an undisclosed amount. TURBODYNE TECHNOLOGIES INC., Woodland Hills, Calif., a maker of antipollution devices, said it was in early talks with unnamed entities involving the possible sale of a minority stake in the company, which had sales of $39.2 million last year. JOHNS MANVILLE CORP., Denver, a maker of insulation and building products, agreed to acquire Quebec-based Manson Insulation, a producer of installation products. Terms were not disclosed.
It May Be Time for a Silver Lining in Air Pollution
AIR-POLLUTION control stocks, though still as torpid as the air on a muggy day, may finally be ready to stir. New smog and soot regulations are in the offing from Washington; European and Asian countries are beginning to regulate air quality, and consumers all over are snapping up air cleaners for their homes and offices. The Institute of Clean Air Companies predicts that its industry's sales, which have been flat at best for seven years, will soon be growing 7 percent a year. ''The news may still be bad, but the promise is certainly good,'' said Jeffrey C. Smith, the institute's executive director.
Scrubbing the Air, Buffing the Cleaners; Belated E.P.A. War on Pollutants May Infuse Value Into Companies
A few years ago, Nina Bergan French started Sky+ to perfect and sell a still rough but promising new method for analyzing toxic metals that she had licensed from a Federal research laboratory. She was certain that the Clean Air Act of 1990 would provide a ready-made market. But the years passed and the Environmental Protection Agency still did not crack down on the metallic contaminants. Ms. French lost her license, and switched Sky+ to government consulting to pay her bills. Now, the E.P.A. is testing several monitoring devices, including the one Ms. French gave up, as it prepares to clamp down on airborne toxic metals. ''Finally, the E.P.A. may create a market for me,'' said Ms. French, who wants Sky+ to do environmental consulting work for industry.
Philip Morris Net Climbs; Philip Morris Net and Sales Set Highs; Other Concerns Report
Philip Morris, Inc., the nation's second largest cigarette company after Reynolds Industries, reported yesterday record earnings and revenues for the quarter and six months ended June 30. The rise reflected increases in the company's tobacco and Miller Brewing operations.
Union Carbide's Profit Fell by 44.5%; Union Carbide Profit Fell 44.5% in Fourth Quarter; Other Companies List Earnings Results
The Union Carbide Corporation, the nation's second-largest chemical producer, reported yesterday profit declines of 44.5 percent for the fourth quarter and 27 percent for all of last year from the record earnings reported in both periods the year before.
TRW Earnings Increase by 14% on Record Sales
Strong performance in all of its major business categories enabled TRW, Inc., to lift second-quarter net earnings by 14 per cent on a sales gain of 13 per cent to a new record, Horace A. Shepard, chairman and chief executive of the Cleveland-based diversified industrial company, reported yesterday.


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Snap Interactive, Inc. (OTCBB: STVI) said its subscription transactions increased 44 percent in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the prior year´s quarter and 30 percent over the prior quarter.
Active subscriber count has increased 16 percent so far in 2014; and AYI.com active subscriber count at the end March of 2014 was approximately 90,000 subscribers, the highest count since March 2013.
SNAP´s chief executive officer, Clifford Lerner, said, “The first quarter of 2014 was AYI.com´s strongest quarter in terms of growth in active subscribers in quite a long time. We are proud of our 16 percent growth in our active subscriber base during the quarter. We´ve been able to grow our subscriber count since December 2013 and look forward to continuing to increase the number of our active subscribers.”
Snap Interactive, Inc. develops, owns and operates a social dating application for social networking websites and mobile platforms. SNAP´s flagship brand, AYI.com is one of the largest social and mobile dating applications on the Internet. Its website is at http://www.snap-interactive.com/, its online dating blog at http://www.ayi.com/dating-blog, on Facebook at facebook.com/SnapInteractiveInc and on Twitter at @SNAPInteractive.


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Phoenix East Valley Thought Leader Forum
Thriving Through Disruption: How They Did It
Doing the unthinkable – from helping people sell a home online to creating a headquarters for Arizona’s fashion industry – these are the ingenious ideas of business disrupters right here in the PHX East Valley.
On Dec. 6, learn how visionary leaders from OfferPad, Infusionsoft, FABRIC (Fashion and Business Resource Innovation Center) and Arizona Craft Brewers Guild have changed their business models and are taking their industries by storm during a moderated panel discussion.
Then, join other business, government and community leaders in honoring two of our region’s biggest champions – Intel Corporation and Mesa Mayor John Giles – with the distinguished Excel Awards.


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Did you miss a session from GamesBeat Summit Next 2022? All sessions are now available for viewing in our on-demand library. Click here to start watching.
As much as T-Mobile wants to be an “uncarrier,” its network still depends on precious wireless spectrum. Now, the company is gearing up for its next big spectrum purchase.
T-Mobile announced yesterday that it’s planning to sell around $1.8 million worth of stock (66.15 million common shares), the proceeds of which will be used to snap up more spectrum, Bloomberg reports.
It’s not clear when and where T-Mobile will actually get the spectrum, though. The carrier could potentially participate in an auction for Lightsquared’s spectrum, a failed wireless company that filed for bankruptcy last year, set to take place in a few months. T-Mobile could also be preparing for an FCC auction of broadcast TV spectrum, which could occur later next year.
Additional spectrum could help T-Mobile expand its network and make it stronger in dense areas. The company just announced that its LTE network now covers 203 million people. From my experience in New York City, its network often has trouble penetrating thick walls, something that more spectrum could easily solve.
After AT&T’s potential acquisition fell through, T-Mobile received a swath of spectrum that allowed it to roll out its 4G LTE network quickly (on top of a handy roaming agreement and $3 billion in cash for T-Mo parent company Deutsche Telekom).
The steady rise of customers is a sign that T-Mobile’s “uncarrier” moves are paying off. This year the company announced that it is killing off service contracts, and it followed that up with some industry-shifting reveals like its early upgrade program, free international roaming, and free mobile data for tablets. AT&T and Verizon were forced to follow suit with their own early upgrade programs, so it’s clear that T-Mobile is influencing its competitors with these seemingly crazy changes.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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The Phoenix Suns and Mercury are officially for sale.
So who's going to buy them?
After an NBA investigation revealed a pattern of racist and misogynist behavior from Robert Sarver, the teams' controlling owner announced on Wednesday that he's started the process of finding a buyer. Sarver's decision arrives on the heels of a public and financial pressure campaign for his removal from the NBA.
LeBron James and Chris Paul led the player movement last week in criticizing the NBA's one-year ban and $10 million fine of Sarver as insufficient. Meanwhile, corporate partner PayPal vowed to cut ties and end its multi-million dollar sponsorship of the Suns as long as Sarver was still around.
So Sarver is out. Or on his way, at least. Now comes the process of finding a new owner. Some heavy hitters are reportedly interested. According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, ex-Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, former Disney CEO Bob Iger, ex-Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Washington Wizards minority owner Laurene Jobs — the widow of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs — are all expected to throw their hat in the ring.
— 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 (@_Talkin_NBA) September 21, 2022
There can be only one controlling owner, of course. Who that is will ultimately be Sarver's decision. Per ESPN's Baxter Holmes, Sarver's ownership stake in the Suns is around one-third but as managing partner, he's in control of the sales process. The NBA has not stripped him of that control.
Logic dictates that the Suns will go to the highest bidder regardless of who's in charge of the sale. With the names involved, that price promises to be lucrative. Bezos, for example is the world's third-wealthiest man with an estimated worth of $146.9 billion as of last week.
Meanwhile, Forbes estimated in 2021 that the Suns were then worth $1.8 billion. But the price promises to exceed that number in a competitive sales market with deep-pocketed bidders. Will it approach $3 billion?
Former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was ousted from the NBA amid a long-term pattern of racist behavior, is likened as a parallel to Sarver. His wife Shelly Sterling oversaw the sale of the Clippers to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. That was in 2014. Prices have since gone up.
Since then, the Houston Rockets sold for $2.2 billion. Alibaba magnate Joe Tsai reset then the market in 2019 with a $2.35 billion purchase of the majority stake of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center from Mikhail Prokhorov. That was for the remaining 51% of the team that he didn't already own, placing the full purchase value of the Nets at roughly $3.3 billion when factoring in debt.
But that was for a New York team. Smaller-market teams have since sold for less than $2 billion. The Utah Jazz sold for an estimated $1.66 billion in 2020 while the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx sold for an estimated $1.5 billion in 2021. The larger-market Suns amid a perpetually hot sports franchise market — see the Denver Broncos $4.65 billion sale in June — promise to fetch more. Whatever the price, it will greatly exceed the $401 million Sarver's group spent to purchase the Suns in 2004.
Sarver may be leaving the NBA a pariah. But he'll do so with a significant payday.


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The official PlayStation Brazil Twitter account may have inadvertently revealed when Overwatch 2 could release to the public.
Overwatch 2 was officially announced at BlizzCon 2019, but Jeff Kaplan said during the weekend that the team had “no idea” when the new game would be coming out.
“Like I mentioned, Overwatch 2 is still in development, and we have a long ways to go before this game is fully ready,” Kaplan explained in an Overwatch 2 panel at BlizzCon 2019. “Just let us make it great… We don’t have a date in mind.”
But it seems like fans may have gotten a hint at the game’s release date after a tweet from PlayStation Brazil about the next chapter in the hero shooter.
“2020 will be the year Overwatch 2 comes to PS4,” the tweet reads, according to Twitter’s translate feature, apparently setting a solid timeframe for the game’s release.
2020 será o ano em que Overwatch 2 chega ao PS4, e para nos prepararmos, conversamos com alguns de seus desenvolvedores, que nos deram informações quentes. Leia a entrevista: https://t.co/6B8i2p9yTH pic.twitter.com/fz9MHOxJWW
— PlayStation Brasil (@PlayStation_BR) January 6, 2020
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The interview linked to in the tweet is just a Portuguese repost of one originally published in English from November of 2019.
Even though the tweet says Overwatch 2 will be coming in 2020, it still leaves a lot of time open for when the game could be coming out.
If the 2020 release date is correct, fans shouldn’t expect to see Overwatch 2 come out before Fall, or for the 2020 Christmas season at the latest.
Of course, no matter how much fans want to see the next chapter in the series, most would probably prefer if the team took their time and made it a great game rather than rush it out.
Kaplan has seemed hesitant to give any kind of solid release date for Overwatch 2 on the few occasions he’s spoken about the game so far, so it seems like he wants to take his time as well.
The one OW2 level we actually got to see at BlizzCon did look well-polished and like a lot of fun, so even if the game doesn’t end up coming out in 2020, there’s plenty for fans to still be excited about.


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Walmart workers aren’t happy, and they’re letting their employer know it.
In the midst of worker strikes in several cities and the looming threat of a mass employee walkout on Black Friday (one of the busiest shopping days of the year), the world’s largest retailer has been hit with a class action lawsuit affecting temporary workers in the Chicago area.
The filing accuses Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and two temporary staffing agencies in the region – Labor Ready Midwest Inc. and QPS Employment Group, Inc. – of breaking minimum wage and overtime laws for temp workers by making them show up early and work through lunch breaks. The lawsuit also alleges that Walmart failed to pay contracted workers the requisite four hours minimum in wages.
“We’re still reviewing the complaint but, based on the UFCW’s press release, one thing is clear: This litigation is being driven by the same union organizations that have been mischaracterizing several issues about Walmart and are more concerned with creating publicity than with improving workers’ rights," Walmart spokesman Dan Fogleman responded via email. “We are committed to ensuring that anyone working in our stores – whether they’re employed by Walmart or, in this case, a temporary staffing agency – is treated appropriately and compensated fairly for every hour they work."
The legal action comes at the tail end of what has been a tumultuous month for Walmart's perpetually rocky relationship with its workers. On Oct. 4, 71 employees in and around Walmart's Pico Rivera, Calif., store in the Los Angeles area participated in a day-long strike that spread to several metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C, according to the Making Change at Walmart campaign. Additionally, a group of workers staged a protest outside Wal-Mart Inc.'s Bentonville, Ark,, headquarters during the company’s annual investors meeting.
Though known for suppressing wages, I found evidence that the company is willing to change working conditions with sufficient pressure. According to St. Louis Federal Reserve President William Poole, the last time there was significant labor unrest at Walmart, in 2006, the company raised wages at 700 stores. Poole, like many at the Fed, regularly spoke with Walmart executives, and they gave him unvarnished views about their business practices because they believed (as did Poole) that the information would be used solely for macro-economic forecasting. On March 27-28, 2006, Poole said that his Walmart contact told him the company would not raise wages, and was planning on moving their work force increasingly towards part-time employment. Poole was interested in this because of its bearing on inflation. “Wages,” he said, “and these are for hourly workers, are absolutely flat – no increases whatsoever in the last year and no increases planned going forward.” Poole continued, “About 20 percent of their associates are part time and that they are going to be increasing that share to 40 percent so they can staff at peak times and get more productivity out of their workforce.”
Just two months later, Poole offered some very different and shocking news, “My Wal-Mart contact also said that “Wal-Mart is in the process of raising starting wages in about 700 stores. This is the first time in eight years of talking with him that I’ve heard any comment like that. He said that some of the raises are part of the Wal-Mart, I’ll call it “Social/political” agenda because of all the controversy about Wal-Mart.” The FOMC transcripts are as close as we’re going to get to internal corporate dialogue without discovery or leaks. The reason I found this information is because Walmart has become a significant presence at the Fed; forecasters at the key Federal Open Market Committee meetings increasingly rely on what the retailer tells them about the economy. Now, FOMC transcripts aren’t released for at least five years, so we don’t know whether this strike is registering with those high level policymakers. But the last time there was a far less aggressive union-backed attack on Walmart‘s business practices, it did.


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Petrol prices drop after anger in St Neots
EVERY little helps was certainty proving to be true this week after Tesco took note of the growing resentment at its high fuel prices and slashed the cost of its petrol. Last week The Hunts Post questioned why the supermarket chain had cut petrol prices a
EVERY little helps was certainty proving to be true this week after Tesco took note of the growing resentment at its high fuel prices and slashed the cost of its petrol.
Last week The Hunts Post questioned why the supermarket chain had cut petrol prices at the "vast majority" of its forecourts, but failed to pass on savings to motorists in Huntingdon and St Neots.
Angry motorists phoned the newspaper accusing Tesco of "daylight robbery" for selling unleaded petrol at 103.9pence per litre.
However, this week the company reduced its prices at its St Neots and Huntingdon filling stations, giving customers a fairer price.
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A Tesco spokesman said the prices are now cheaper than those being offered by the retailer more than a year and a half ago, with unleaded on offer at 96.9p per litre at its stores in Huntingdon and 99.9ppl in St Neots.
"We monitor prices on a daily basis and as soon as prices fall again we will pass the savings on to our customers," she said.
- 1 Lack of public transport blamed for collapse of £10.5m training centre
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- 3 Man in his 80s dies in fatal Buckden Road crash at Brampton
- 4 Off-duty detective snares £200k drug dealer
- 5 Fundraisers hit £400,000 milestone after month of charity challenges
- 6 Wanted woman accused of killing children in M1 crash could be in Huntingdon
- 7 Concerns over planned travel hub at railway station
- 8 Computing pioneer Sir Clive Sinclair who had links to St Ives dies aged 81
- 9 Spuds in a bucket competition at the gardening club
- 10 Police find string of ponies in middle of Cambridgeshire road
She added: "We have cut the price of unleaded fuel by 3p per litre at the majority of our 430 forecourts - the fourth cut in under a fortnight.
"And with our national petrol promotion running in stores, motorists can get a further 5p off per litre, taking prices for unleaded petrol down to levels last seen in April 2007."
According to www.petrolprices.com, the average price of unleaded petrol in Huntingdonshire yesterday (Tuesday) was 99.5p compared to 104.2ppl last week.
One of the lowest on offer was Sainsbury's in Huntingdon, which was charging 94.9 pence per litre for unleaded and 107.9 for diesel.


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International Game Technology announced today that it has become the first U.S. supplier in the gaming industry to receive Global Gambling Guidance Group (G4) responsible gaming accreditation for its sports betting operations. With this monumental achievement from G4, IGT is certified in responsible gaming across its four product segments encompassing lottery, gaming, digital and betting.
“IGT’s proactive approach to responsible gaming and achieving prestigious G4 certifications sets the pace for the entire industry to go above and beyond what state regulation mandates when it comes to player protection,” said Joe Asher, IGT President of Sports Betting. “As sports betting continues its expansion across the U.S., IGT is actively demonstrating that it is now more important than ever to exercise strong responsible gaming support. We are honored to be the first industry supplier to achieve sports betting responsible gaming accreditation and we look forward to working with our customers to implement our best-in-class solutions for their players.”
“G4 applauds IGT for making responsible gaming a top priority across all of its business verticals,” said Pieter Remmers, Chairman of the G4 Board of Directors. “G4 appreciates having IGT as an accredited member and glad to see the company continue leading the gaming industry with its responsible gaming initiatives.”
G4 aims to minimize the impact of problem gaming by promoting a worldwide accreditation program for the remote and e-gambling industry and operators. This certification ensures that IGT has a responsible gaming code of practice that includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Corporate practices that are born from a strong management commitment to responsible gaming;
- Practices and policies that support a responsible gaming framework;
- Player protection information;
- An advertising and marketing code of principles for responsible gaming;
- Employee training and support on responsible gaming policies;
- Player protection tools such a player-led time and money limits, self-exclusion and age verification; and
- Third-party research and its application for improving responsible gaming tools and approaches.
IGT received G4 responsible gaming certification for its gaming operations in 2017 and its digital solutions in 2019. Additionally, IGT’s lottery and iLottery businesses are certified by the World Lottery Association (WLA) for WLA’s Corporate Social Responsibility Standards and Responsible Gaming Framework for Suppliers.


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Accor has won the International Hospitality Excellence Award at the Indonesia Hospitality & Tourism Investment Conference (IHT) in Jakarta, in recognition of the group’s commitment to service
The Annual Congress and General Assembly was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 17 and 21 April 2013. The theme for this year’s Global Travel and Tourism Conference was: Remodeling the Travel and
TOKYO - The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has confirmed The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto will officially open its doors on February 7, 2014, and unveiled the first images of the luxury urban resort that pays
The 2014 edition of the Phuket International Boat Show will be held 9-12 January at Royal Phuket Marina, and the opening hours extended further into the evening. The dates have been set for the 2014
COLOMBO - Organised by Seatrade and hosted by Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the last day of Sri Lanka Ports, Trade & Logistics Conference, Exhibition & Awards started with a two hour port tour of the
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has announced in the results of its third GBTA BTI Outlook that spending on international outbound business travel from China will increase by 13.3% in
SINGAPORE – The inaugural Far East Heritage Festival 2013 is set to bring travellers and locals on a journey through the Singapore story via informative and experiential trails at popular,
SINGAPORE has beaten Tianjin, China and Monterrey, Mexico to secure a five-year contract to host the prestigious Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Championships between 2014-2018.
Shekhar Niyogi, reporting from Arabian Travel Market, Dubai, May 9, 2013
SEVEN of the top 10 hospitals on the 2013 World's Best Hospitals for Medical Tourists list are in Asia, offering opportunities for the travel trade to work more closely with healthcare providers.
INDONESIA will need 800 new hotels or 100,000 more rooms within the next decade in order to keep pace with the projected growth of domestic and international tourists to the country.
Vietnam tourism authorities are presenting a tax reduction proposal to the government to boost tourism to the country.
To mark 53 years of flying, THAI Airways International offers lower fares in economy and business class for passengers departing Bangkok and Phuket on most of its international routes up to 30
Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies handled 1,624,513 international tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the first four months of this year representing substantial improvement of
HONG KONG – Costa Cruises, on its 65-anniversary, will launch China’s first Around-the-World cruise from Shanghai on 22nd March, 2014 in partnership with Shanghai Airlines Tours (SAT), a subsidiary of
BANGKOK - Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) is a new initiative promoting excellence and knowledge sharing when it comes to leveraging digital, social, and mobile in the travel and tourism industry to
Sydney has shone brightly once more, with Australia’s leading convention bureau, Business Events Sydney (BESydney), taking out the national Metropolitan Destination Marketing Organisation Award at
MUMBAI, INDIA – Sameer Dharkar, Managing Director of Absolute Hotel Services India has the pleasure to announce new management contracts with Delta Corporation to manage two new hotels in Daman and
Encore Incentives has joined arinex, Australia's leading PCO, Destination Management Company (DMC) and Event Management Company. In announcing the move, arinex Managing Director, Roslyn McLeod, said
LONDON – Boingo Wireless, a leading DAS and Wi-Fi provider that serves consumers, carriers and advertisers worldwide, announced agreements to provide managed Wi-Fi services at three major airports in
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism exhibition, has named the Philippines as the recipient of the New Frontiers Award 2013 during a special seminar event held on
ASEAN Secretary-General Speaks Out On Tourism
JAKARTA – Aircraft flying into Indonesian airspace will soon enjoy enhanced air-to-ground communications with a new seamless air-to-ground data link service from air transport communications
Conferma has signed an agreement to form a strategic partnership with Abacus, the leading Global Distribution System [GDS] in the Asia Pacific region. This marks another significant milestone for the
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau recently announced the new branding of Yokohama as Japan’s premier international convention city.


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Originally published in the Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon
By: Kent Hohlfeld in Architecture and Engineering, News May 12, 2017 3:58 pm
Augmented reality: the next big thing?
To continue to push the envelope, a growing number of architects and builders are using innovative systems to look beyond the real world. One of the newest is augmented reality.
While virtual reality (VR) systems immerse users in entirely computer-generated worlds, augmented reality (AR) systems overlay information onto real-world settings. With a VR system, a user can walk through a building before it’s even built. With an AR system, a user can enter a building under construction, look out virtual windows, examine virtual walls or view virtual ductwork in a real ceiling.
“With augmented reality, it’s about augmenting the real world with something that is in the space,” said Ryan McCullough, an Ankrom Moisan Architects associate. “You’re augmenting what you see in the real world. In VR, you put on the headset and you are in an enclosed, self-contained space. (AR) is actually projecting holograms out into the world.”
Augmented reality first gained attention when Google released early versions of its Google Glass in 2013. The glasses could overlay maps, location information and Google search results onto space in the real world. But privacy and safety concerns arose, and Google shelved its prototype in 2015.
A much more successful example is the Pokémon Go app that was launched in summer 2016. Game players can see video creatures through their phone on a background made up of the real world.
Skanska used a similar iPhone app to show Banfield Pet Hospital officials what their new corporate headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, would look like after construction.
“We used an app from Inglobe,” said Steve Clem, Skanska vice president of project planning services. “It allowed us to create a marker that would allow the phone to detect the marker and would project an image of that project through the phone.
“We have done much more in the VR space than the AR space. It is more developed.”
But AR technology is progressing, and building industry professionals are finding more uses for it.
“One of the great things about augmented reality is that we can tell the computer how we want to interact,” McCullough said.
For instance, an AR headset can project a hologram of a building onto a conference table, stabilize it and allow people to view the building in different sizes from all sides and angles.
Ankrom Moisan is an early adopter of Microsoft’s HoloLens system. Unlike a VR headset that blacks out a person’s field of view, the HoloLens has clear lenses that project objects into the real world.
While VR systems often require high-end computers capable of generating an entire environment, the HoloLens system is entirely self-contained. Images are uploaded to the visor, which contains a computer capable of projecting the images into space.
Companies including Acer, Lenovo and HP are working on versions of AR headsets, but Microsoft is the front-runner, according to McCullough.
“There are more companies working in the VR space,” he said. “AR is more of a technical challenge, and it has taken a company like Microsoft to kind of take that on and figure out how to attack it.
“With augmented reality, you need the computer to be able understand something about the space you are in. Instead of completely replacing your environment, it has to look at the environment that you are in and know what it is looking at and be able to respond to that.”
Such technical challenges have limited development of AR systems. Unlike VR systems, which have a large library of software and developed uses, AR systems are still somewhat unknown. That has left some companies skeptical.
“In my experience the tech is not totally viable yet,” said Jonah Hawk, associate partner and visualization specialist at ZGF Architects. “There are some amazing tech demos. It is not our tool of choice. It is just not as developed right now.”
ZGF Architects, like most architecture firms, finds VR systems most useful. However, a lot is required to create a totally immersive experience. ZGF’s VR system runs on a 4.5 gigahertz, water-cooled computer with three separate graphics cards, two towers that monitor a person’s movement within the virtual world and the headset. Also, though a few VR headsets are wireless, most must be physically connected to the computer system – and that can limit movement within the virtual world.
Hardware costs for both systems are similar. While good VR headsets can cost as little at $800, the computer system to create the environment can cost $7,000 to $13,000. While the HoloLens costs $3,000 per pair, elements to be uploaded can be created on considerably cheaper computers.
The bigger cost for both systems is the time, training and software needed to use the hardware.
“All that content that has to be developed has a cost,” Hawk said. “There is a lot of work that goes into that.”
While VR systems have well-known uses, AR systems simply don’t yet. During a Design Week presentation at Ankrom Moisan’s offices, many attendees questioned the cost and potential use.
“We had people that said, ‘We could never do this where I work,’” said Caroline Dao, senior associate and director of technology at Ankrom Mosian. “They had questions like, ‘How do you sell this as a service?’”
Ankrom Moisan primarily uses AR to allow large groups of architects, engineers and consultants to simultaneously see the same elements or models without having to physically produce them.
The AR systems can also allow clients to see what an element will look like in a real space. For instance, a digital window can be projected onto a real wall, sized, moved and replaced at will. Virtual furniture can be placed into real space, without having to create a digital representation of the space.
“When we were looking for a new home (for Ankrom Moisan), we had been looking at the (Mason Ehrman Building),” Dao said. “Windows were going to be a contentious issue. Had we had a HoloLens at the Historic Landmarks Commission (hearing), that might have been a different story.”
While users debate whether VR or AR is most useful now, a mixed reality future is likely.
“I think they are both going to have their place,” Hawk said. “The difference between them is going to blend together.”
Currently, the only mixed reality headset scheduled for release is an Acer one that will work on Windows systems. Acer’s planned launch date is the fourth quarter of 2017. Though touted as a mixed reality device, it relies heavily on computer-generated environments and uses two cameras to bring real elements into the virtual world. Early versions appear to be geared toward computer gaming uses.
The ultimate goal for those working in the building industry is to get to a point where the two systems can be blended seamlessly.
“Where all this is going to end up is mixed reality,” McCullough said. “We will have the option to completely replace the environment or selectively add elements of real world to a virtual environment or selectively add elements of the virtual world to a real environment.”
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Amazon Prime Day 2021 Sales: Top Marketing Insights
If you offer an omnichannel experience to your customers, you have 91% higher chances of increasing your customer retention. When it comes to understanding omnichannel customer experience, Amazon Prime Day is a great example. Amazon’s e-commerce platform is a powerful entity in online retailing industry that recreates amaz-ing customer journeys by unifying data, customer support, and Cloud/ AI capabilities.
Prime Day – the busiest day of the year for the largest e-commerce platform in the world, Amazon – is returning to its original summertime schedule this month.
In Part 2 of the Amazon Prime Day Sale coverage, we featured additional insights from the top marketing leaders in the industry who have been closely analyzing the e-commerce industry.
Lockdown Influences Amazon Prime Day Sales
While pandemic restrictions have eased back in some regions, others are still under lockdown. Due to travel restrictions and pandemic safety precautions, many consumers will be seizing the opportunity to purchase discounted items online – especially as gifts for loved ones they won’t get to see this summer. In addition:
- Customer service agents are still working remotely in many regions, and potentially hindered by restrictions of their at-home environment, such as poor WiFi bandwidth and hardware access which impacts voice quality and can result in dropped calls;
- Any products purchased are subject to potential returns, due to consumers either being unhappy with the purchase or desiring an exchange for a gift;
- The busiest day of the year for Amazon will undoubtedly result in shipping and logistics delays;
- Customer service issues will inevitably increase as well because of increased returns and order processing.
To prevent customer frustration and poor customer service, third-party vendors on Amazon Prime will need to implement strategic customer experience (CX) strategies to both enable and validate contact center processes to ensure all CX operations are running smoothly.
Amazon Prime Day Sale: It’s All About ‘Attraction’
Hugh Fletcher, Global Head of Consultancy and Innovation at Wunderman Thompson Commerce, said, “The 48-hour shopping mania that is Amazon’s Prime Day is likely to be the biggest yet. This ‘peak’ day is absolutely vital to Amazon but it’s not just about deals; it’s also about attraction. Turning shoppers into Prime members is a key strategic goal for the company as Prime members spend a higher percentage of their online spend via Amazon than non-Prime members. What’s more, With Covid-19 causing havoc for retailers, 35% of all shopping during lockdown was completed through Amazon, and, as of today, we’re likely to see this loyal customer base visiting the platform in their droves to snap up the latest deals.
“During the pandemic period, while many retailers’ supply chain faltered due to increased demand, Amazon’s thrived. In fact, due to its variety, competitive price points, and next-day delivery, it not only benefits from the pent-up demand, but its stellar performance also increased consumers’ positive perception of the brand by 25%. Amazon’s success over the last 12-months has proven that brands need to feature on the platform to cash in on the global audience it demands, it’s no longer a ‘nice-to-have’. This is especially true as last year, the platform committed to spending more than £75 million on promotional activities leading up to Prime Day to enable smaller businesses around the world to increase their sales funnel and reach new audiences – with this figure likely to be replicated again this time around.”
Hugh added, “With millions of consumers now well aware of the benefits of online shopping, Amazon is set to triumph today and tomorrow. With the easing of restrictions hanging in the balance, it’s now up to brands to seize the moment and devise a staunch strategy with Amazon which complements their own channels and satisfies consumers at every touch-point.”
Amazon’s Third-Party Vendors Are Set to Enjoy the Same Uptick in Sales
Jat Sahi, Retail Consulting Industry Lead for Fujitsu UK, said –
“Irrespective of the easing or tightening of restrictions this month, an earlier than usual Amazon Prime Day is set to break sales records the world over – as it has done every year since 2015. And, while the date itself may have changed, the retail giant is primed to make the same splash over what might otherwise have been a dormant shopping period.
“With social distancing measures still firmly in place and foreign travel seemingly canceled, the usual spend on summer holiday wares will likely falter – but spending on products to make a summer at home more entertaining could yet work in Amazon’s favor. Between the pent-up demand accumulated over lockdown and the eCommerce gold rush that’s materialized from the pandemic, Amazon’s steadfast supply chains are watertight enough to provide the speed and convenience consumers are on the hunt for. And it’s not all at the expense of its competitors; Amazon’s third-party vendors are set to enjoy the same uptick in sales today and tomorrow thanks to its unflinching digital infrastructure.
“After a difficult year for the retail sector, Amazon has refused to stop innovating and creating. With an ever-growing workforce and significant physical footprint, this year’s Prime Day could even be Amazon’s biggest ever. For smaller retailers struggling to decide on their next steps, it’ll be a case of joining them this year – because they certainly won’t beat them.”
Third-Party Amazon Vendors Should Leverage Automation to Meet CX Demands that Spike During Booming Events
Dennis Reno, VP of CX at Cyara (a company that provides automated CX validation solutions), explains how third-party Amazon vendors can leverage automation to ensure seamless customer experiences during Prime Day.
Dennis said, “Peak purchasing days for any retailers, including Amazon, test and stress customer journeys and contact center capabilities. Because of this, retailers should prioritize automation to remain competitive in today’s post-pandemic e-commerce market, especially on peak purchasing days such as Prime Day. Automated CX testing technology is key to keeping pace with customer expectations, simply because it enables teams to be more efficient while remaining focused on the right things. This is critical because vendors are feeling more pressure than ever to work faster, provide exceptional customer experiences without errors and meet shorter order-to-delivery deadlines. For example, if your product ships in 24 hours but your competitor ships in 6 hours, your business will always be at a perpetual CX disadvantage.”
Dennis added, “By reducing the amount of manual testing a team must perform regularly to ensure customer service systems are functioning properly, you can improve CX efficiency, tighten up delivery and return schedules and ultimately win over and retain customers. Additionally, automated testing can give retailers insights on the quality of the calls being taken by their agents. Many customer service agents still working remotely in many regions, and potentially hindered by restrictions of their at-home environment, such as poor WiFi bandwidth and hardware access which impacts voice quality, can result in dropped calls and has a negative effect on the overall experience.”
Dennis also explained the role of AI and ML-based automation in online retail. He said, “Retail AI- and machine learning-driven automation can also help retailers learn about their customer base, customer preferences and behavioral patterns. In the last few years, AI has become able to even study customers in such depth that it can anticipate what products they need to buy and when. This can be highly beneficial to drive additional business during peak purchasing days and has the potential to improve the customer’s experience as well.”
Build Relationships and Create Stronger Connections With Products and Services
Stephen Warrington, Global Vice President of e-commerce and Retail at Jellyfish said, “Amazon Prime Day has become a mainstay in the calendar, a peak moment that no retailer can afford to ignore. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to reach a global network of shoppers, expand the share of voice and maximize ROI. But, there is a fine balancing act to be achieved here for retailers and brands – shy away from Amazon’s worldwide audience, or create a strategy alongside the e-commerce giant? The stark reality is that consumers have changed their approach to shopping now – they not only see Amazon as a place to purchase high-quality brands but also as a place to engage, build relationships and create stronger connections with products and services.
Stephen added, “Part of this is down to Amazon’s approach to innovation – it often leads the way in technology-driven adoption, be it voice-activation, drone delivery and even the ‘Brand Store’, which enables retailers to design their own virtual storefront and create a seamless shopping experience. For partnering retailers, it’s about finding the right balance between working with Amazon’s array of technology and creating a strategy that offers access to the heart of Amazon’s vast audience, both before, during, and after the 48-hour shopping bonanza. For the retailers that already sell on Amazon, Prime Day does offer the potential to increase sales, but it still comes at a cost in the form of market share. It’s a tightrope that, unfortunately, many retailers have to walk.”
Amazon Prime Day Creates a Halo Effect on the Broader Retail Landscape
Seraj Bharwani, CSO, AcuityAds said, “Amazon Prime Day has become the largest retail sales event for Amazon, even bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday by sales volume. The company is expected to generate over $12 Billion in sales from Amazon Prime Day 2021, growing by almost 20 percent over last year’s sales event.
Data shows that what’s good for Amazon is good for the entire retail ecosystem. Amazon Prime Day creates a halo effect on the broader retail landscape with competitors like Walmart, Target and others who jump into the foray by offering their own promotions and benefitting from the shopping frenzy that Amazon Prime Day creates nationally. Sales volume on products with deals grow by over 40% to 70% during the sales period.”
Seraj added, “Amazon Prime Day will alter the pre-Summer-vacation consumer journeys. Since this year’s sales event is happening in June, I expect a major shift in shopping behaviors with consumers searching for deals on games, toys, electronics, travel gear and summer apparel before going on vacations. DTC brands should capitalize on this pre-vacation, shopping window and revamp their omnichannel advertising plans to fully benefit from the Amazon Prime Day halo effect.”
Seraj concluded, “Amazon Prime Day is of greater consequence this year for those who want to support small and local businesses. American Express pioneered the concept of Small Business Saturday, an event that traditionally happens on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, should consider doing an early version of this event around Amazon Prime Day to help the local businesses that were the hardest hit from COVID over the past 18 months. Similarly, Shopify should build on the Amazon Prime Day halo and leverage the momentum in support of millions of small businesses that run on their shopping platform.”
Customer Expectations for Green Delivery Are Growing
Ian Gardner, CEO at GoFor Industries, a provider of last-mile, on-demand, and same-day delivery solutions for suppliers and retailers, said, “Prime Day is the culmination of growing customer expectations for affordability, convenience and speed. Delivery in a matter of hours is becoming the consumer standard, as seen with Target and Walmart offering competing sales events. But the true winner will be the retailer that is not only the quickest and most efficient to deliver, but that focuses on sustainability at every level of fulfillment.”
Ian added, “Customer expectations for green delivery are growing. We’ve seen Amazon investing in Rivian electric vehicles in response, FedEx partnering with Chanje Energy, UPS partnering with Arrival, DHL building their own captive Streetscooter fleet and GoFor partnering with a soon to be announced commercial EV OEM.”
“If retailers who are not on the Amazon Marketplace want to compete and use delivery as a competitive advantage, they need to be talking to last-mile delivery partners who can help them. – They need to scale up their capacity for same-day and next-day delivery and they need to be considering EVs and other sustainable transportation methods, rather than just simply marking down prices. This means forging strategic delivery partnerships that can help them and that have expertise in the implementation of green practices throughout their entire delivery ecosystem, while not sacrificing scalability and efficiency, especially during peak shopping holidays such as Prime Day.”
This Is a Great Opportunity for Them to Get Creative With Their Customer Data Strategy
Heidi Bullock, CMO at Tealium said, “Amazon Prime Day, Target Deal Days and other major shopping events should prompt brands to rethink their approach to attracting and retaining customers. In fact, this is a great opportunity for them to get creative with their customer data strategy. As customers are presented with new choices, like the decision to return to in-store shopping, stay online or a hybrid of both, brands have a chance to regain the customer loyalty they may have lost during the pandemic. Customers not only crave new experiences, but they also want to make sure they’re receiving value from the brands they choose to shop with. That’s why brands that can leverage data to provide personalized customer experiences will win out on Prime Day and beyond. However, it’s also important that brands practice tactics like contextual value exchange so customers understand that a request for data is contextual to the value being offered — otherwise, loyalty and trust will fall through the cracks. Without transparency, it is nearly impossible for brands to create the tailored experiences their customers want.”
Todd Morris, CEO of Label Insight a NielsenIq company, “The large majority of online shoppers are searching for products based on diet and lifestyle needs such as keto and gluten-free, not by brand name, and Prime Day will be a prime example of this. Competition is fierce amongst retailers, with online shopping being the ultimate battleground, but it’s also a channel with massive potential to better serve customers looking for products, across categories, based on their specific health needs like diabetes and high blood pressure. To break through the competition is two-fold: retailers must use a sophisticated data-driven approach to provide comprehensive product information as well as understand customer’s preferences and shopping habits. Tapping into this breadth of knowledge opens the door to a wealth of opportunities for retailers. It also enables them to curate their e-commerce selection, offers and promotions to create a better overall shopping experience especially during major events like Prime Day. Ultimately, the retailer who embraces this approach will be the one who successfully meets today’s rapidly changing consumer preferences and who differentiates themselves in the competitive market.”
Steve Ricketts, Head of eCommerce at MediaCom said, “Throughout the pandemic, there has been a significant shift in consumer shopping behavior towards e-commerce – something Amazon is taking full advantage of this Prime Day. For many, Amazon is now the start of the purchasing journey, ahead of the likes of Google, and through their extensive customer base, it possesses a rich supply of first-party customer data which informs sales and marketing. Thanks to this, Amazon can offer unprecedented levels of targeting, discounts and incentives which guarantees that Prime Day is one of the biggest retail events of the year.”
Steve added, “Now, Amazon needs to further invest in tools for more branded content and customer engagement experiences if it hopes to keep this up. One area that is rapidly posing a challenge to the brand is the emergence of social commerce. If executed correctly, social commerce creates unique customer experiences that remain on the social platform, instead of directing users to a retailer, while simultaneously increasing sales revenue and growth at scale. Through the use of APIs and digital tools, Amazon might look to create a more intuitive platform that incentives other brands to sell their goods on its platform. Implementing this more robust digital strategy will entice consumers to form an even stronger affiliation with Amazon and maintain its position as the largest and most successful online retailer in the world.”
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Plymouth lottery addict jailed for stealing tickets
A teenage lottery addict who stole thousands of tickets from the village shop where he worked has been jailed.
Matthew Lucey, of Tamerton Foliot, Plymouth, fiddled the till to hide his thefts and claimed £13,000 in winnings, while throwing away losing tickets.
Plymouth Crown Court heard the 19-year-old was caught stealing on CCTV.
Lucey, who admitted fraud, was sentenced to eight months in a Young Offenders' Institution.
Despite being paid just £80 a week for his part-time work, the court was told Lucey bought a car, opened a series of bank accounts, boasted of buying designer clothes, and drank up to two bottles of spirits every day.
He became a compulsive gambler and spent much of his stolen money on betting.
His actions almost ruined the owners of the shop, Gareth and Angela Burgham, causing them to take out an overdraft to cover the sudden and unexplained drop in their takings.
Sentencing Lucey, Recorder Stephen Parish told him the theft had been a breach of the owners' trust, after they had given him the job as an act of kindness.
"You repaid that kindness by stealing £13,000 over six to ten months.
"These offences showed a degree of cunning and care and you covered your own tracks," he said.
Malcolm Clark, prosecuting, said Mr and Mrs Burgham became suspicious when their village shop in Tamerton Foliot started losing income.
CCTV video showed Lucey cheating the till by cancelling parts of purchases and pocketing the money - a scheme so complicated he needed paper and a calculator next to the till to work out how much he could steal without the till showing a deficit.
Defending Lucey, Paul Bitmead said his client suffered from depression and suspected schizophrenia and claimed to hear voices in his head ordering him to steal money.


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Epic Games is pursuing a legal route to force Apple to allow its popular Fortnite game back into the App Store, branding the iPhone maker's move as 'retaliation' and insisting that its store model is a monopoly.
Although earlier reports indicated that the next move in the ongoing saga would not be until the end of September, Epic has since filed a preliminary injunction against Apple, attempting to force the company into allowing Fortnite back into the App Store and to restoring Epic's developer accounts.
Apple banned Fortnite from its store last month, after Epic announced a direct payment plan for users, offering players a 20 per cent discount for in-app purchases. The firm said that it was able to offer the cheaper price because it avoided the 30 per cent cut Apple charged to developers.
Apple then threatened to terminate Epic's developer accounts, which would prevent iOS Fortnite users from receiving any updates, and halt development of Epic's widely used Unreal Engine for iOS and Mac. A judge issued a temporary restraining order to stop the move, saying that while Epic had breached its contract with Apple, it didn't violate any agreement related to Unreal Engine and developer tools.
That temporary relief was an aid for both parties. It meant Apple would not be forced to allow a game that breached its rules back into its App Store, but also that it couldn't block Epic's developer accounts - which would have had far-reaching implications for the games industry.
Epic now says that Apple's move has caused material harm to its business, claiming in its filing (pdf) that 'Daily active users on iOS have declined by over 60% since Fortnite's removal from the App Store.'
The developer goes on to say, 'If Apple can cut off Epic's ability to continue updating Unreal Engine for iOS and macOS, both Epic and the millions of developers using Unreal Engine would be harmed. Developers who have invested in creating projects for iOS and macOS would have to change course or simply end their work. Going forward, developers are questioning whether Unreal Engine would remain a viable platform on which to build their applications.'
iOS is Fortnite's biggest platform, with - according to Epic - 116 million registered users, out of the game's total 350 million.
Britain introduced the Digital Services Tax in April, due to slow progress on a global agreement about how to tax tech giants like Facebook
Your webcam word could be your bond
European Parliament advised to build its own 'European Internet' to block services supporting unlawful activities
EU also needs to start a funding programme for European firms to build sophisticated eGovernment services, policy document says
It will help the European Commission to draft new Digital Services Act